Lock alarm device

ABSTRACT

A lock alarm mechanism for vending machines and the like is described, including a key-operated latch member secureable to a hinged housing door or panel member and lockingly interengageable with a latch bar member resiliently supported with respect to the associated housing member and operative, only during intervals of attempted forcing of the lock such as by prying between the door or panel member and the housing member, to yieldingly move the latch bar member and thereby actuate a self-contained alarm in the housing structure protected.

United States Patent Wagner 51 May 2,1972

[54] LOCK ALARM DEVICE William Wagner, 1800 West 4th Avenue, Hialeah, Fla. 33010 22 Filed: Oct. 5, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 78,048

[72] Inventor:

[52] U.S.Cl ..116/8,116/12,116/1l2, 340/297 [51] Int. Cl ..E05b 45/00 [58] Field of Search ..116/5, 8,12, 65, 75, 85, 86, 116/100, 112; 137/3848, 384.2; 340/297 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 924,803 6/1909 Long ..1 16/12 979,808 12/1910 Stanford ..116/12 986,799 3/1911 Byrne et a1 ..1 16/12 1,184,550 5/1916 McMahon ..1 16/86 1,412,720 4/1922 Szafranski ..l37/384.2 X

1,461,507 7/1923 Whittier "137/3848 X 1,588,543 6/1926 Fraser ..1 16/8 1,639,565 8/1927 Jakopec et a1. 16/8 3,185,127 5/1965 Chedister 116/86 3,325,800 6/1967 Messick..... 340/297 3,451,369 6/1969 Leve et al. ..1 16/86 Primary ExaminerLouis J. Capozi AttorneyErnest H. Schmidt [5 7] ABSTRACT A lock alarm mechanism for vending machines and the like is described, including a key-operated latch member secure-able to a hinged housing door or panel member and lockingly interengageable with a latch bar member resiliently supported with respect to the associated housing member and operative, only during intervals of attempted forcing of the lock such as by prying between the door or panel member and the housing member, to yieldingly move the latch bar member and thereby actuate a self-contained alarm in the housing structure protected.

9 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Paftented May 2, 1972 3,659,549

INVENTOR.

HTTOEA/EX LOCK ALARM DEVICE This invention relates to locks and is directed particularly to a lock alarm device operative to give a loud warning sound whenever an attempt is made to gain unauthorized entry by forcing the associated locking mechanism.

Vending machines, such as cigarette dispensingmachines, soft drink machines, candy machines, etc. for the self-service purchase of merchandize by the insertion of one or more coins into coin slots are widely used, particularly public places, for convenience and economy in selling a wide variety of commonly used articles. Their widespread use in public places coupled with the fact that they are very often left unattended or unguarded during the night makes them attractive subjects of vandelism and thievery, usually by attempts being made to pry open the machine enclosure or housing door or panel for gaining access to the contained merchandise and coin collection box. Various alarm devices heretofore associated with vending machine locks for warning of forced entry have been deficient in many respects, principally in that the warning signal, usually a loud-sounding bell or the like, once actuated by unauthorized attempts at forcing the lock, remained actuated or energized until the energizing source became depleted. Since the energizing source was, for practical reasons, self-contained within the vending machine housing, it was only necessary for the wouldbe thief to retreat from the area and wait until the alarm ran out of its energizing source, whereafter, if no one in charge or authority had responded to the alarm, he could return to complete, undisturbed, a forceful entry into the machine for stealing the contents.

it is, accordingly, the principal object of this invention to provide a novel and improved lock alarm mechanism, particularly well suited to use with vending machines but not necessarily limited thereto, which obviates the above-described deficiency of prior alarms by being operative to give a warning signal upon attempted forceful entry only for such intervals of time as pressure is actually being applied to pry or force open the lock.

A more particular object of the invention is to provide a lock alarm device for vending machines comprising a keyoperated latch member co-operative with a latch bar member interhookingly engaged by the latch member when in locked condition, wherein the latch bar member is resiliently supported with respect to the inside of the relatively separable housing member of a vending machine or the like, and including mechanism controlled by the yielding movement of the latch bar member during an attempt being made to separate the other relatively separable housing member, to sound an alarm.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a lock alarm mechanism of the above nature which is well adapted to use with a gas pressure actuated alarm horn having an energizing source in the form of a compact container of pressurized gas, such as of Freon refrigerating gas.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lock alarm mechanism of the character described which will be simple in construction, economical to manufacture, well adapted to use in association with ordinary vending machine locking devices without extensive modification thereof, and which will be dependable and long wearing in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each of the two figures of the drawing:

FIG. 1 illustrates, in top plan view, a lock alarm mechanism embodying the invention, shown fitted for use against inner wall portions of a vending machine housing, the housing being partially illustrated in transverse cross-section; and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lock alarm mechanism shown in an enlarged scale and illustrating its interconnection with a gas pressure actuated sounding horn and a source of pressurized gas for sounding an alarm whenever an attempt is made to force open the associated vending machine door panel.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 designates, generally, a lock alarm mechanism embodying the invention shown in use in association, by way of example, with a vending machine housing 11 comprising a housing body or container member 12 (partially illustrated) and a housing enclosing door member 13 hingedly connected with said body member at the opposite side of the housing (not illustrated) from the lock mechanism. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lock alarm mechanism comprises the usual key-operated lock cylinder 14 fitted to the housing door member 13 and having, at the inside, an arcuate latch portion 15 swingable between locking and unlocking positions by use of a key fitted in the lock cylinder 14. The lock cylinder 14 and its associated arcuate latch portion 15 is of ordinary known construction for use with a co-operative latch bar or the like fixed with respect to the associated housing member to be locked, and behind which the outer end portion 15a of said arcuate latch portion abuttingly engages when in locked position. A salient feature of the present invention resides in the provision not of the usual latch bar that is rigidly fixed with respect to a housing body member to be locked but, instead, a latch bar member that is yieldingly secured withrespect to such a housing body member to permit the relative movement thereof with respect to the housing body member, which relative movement will occur upon any attempt being made to force the lock open, and is utilized to sound an alarm.

To this end, as illustrated in FIG. 1, an inner wall portion of the housing body member 12 opposite the lock cylinder 14 has secured thereagainst a backing plate 16, said backing plate being attached, for example, as by rivets 17. Adjustably secured in face-to-face relation against the inside of the backing plate 16 is a flat support plate 18, said support plate being provided with upper and lower pairs of horizontally extending slot 19 through which securing machine screws 20 extend into tapped openings in the backing plate 16. For the purpose hereinafter more particularly described, the slots 19 and their associated machine screws 20 provide for adjustable in and out securement of the latch slide bar mechanisms with respect to the associated arcuate latch 15.

A U-shaped slide bar having a forward, outwardly-extending latch bar portion 22 and a rear, outwardly-extending leg portion 23 is slidingly disposed against the outside of the support plate 18 near the front or forward end thereof. The web portion 210 of the U-shaped slide bar 21 has a longitudinallyextending slot 24 through which a horizontally spaced pair of machine screws 25 and 26 extend to be threadingly received in tapped openings in the support plate 18. The machine screws 25, 26 screw down into their respective threaded openings only to such a degree as will constrain the slide bar 21 against any substantial movement of said slide bar with respect to said support plate other than in and out horizontal sliding movement permitted by the length of the horizontallyextending slot 24.

Means is provided for yieldingly supporting the U-shaped slide bar 21 in adjusted relative sliding position with respect to the support plate 18. To this end, a helical compression spring 27 has its ends constrained between the outer surface of the forward latch bar portion 22 of the U-shaped slide bar 21 and the inner face of an outwardly-extending lug portion 28 integrally formed with the support plate 18 at the forward end thereof. A locating pin 29 centrally disposed within the helical compression spring 27 and having one end fixed, as by peening, to the forward latch bar portion 22, has its other end slidably disposed in a bore 28a provided in lug portion 28 of the support plate 18. A machine screw 31 fitted with a washer 32 extends through the bore 28 to be adjustably received within a tapped axial opening 33 in the outer end of the locating pin 29. It is to be noted, with reference to FIG. 2, that the outer end of the locating pin 29 extends only partially into the bore 28 to permit adjustment of the helical compression spring 27 to the desired pressure to be exerted rearwardly upon the U-shaped slide bar 21. The helical compression spring 27, for reasons hereinbelow more particularly described, is fairly stiff. A spring exerting a 30 pound force, for example, has been found to be suitable ina practical embodiment of the invention.

The rear, outwardly-extending leg portion 23 of the U- shaped slide bar 21 is integrally formed with an upwardly-extending ear portion 34. A normally closed gas valve 35 afiixed in any conveninet manner against the support plate 18, behind the U-shaped slide bar 21, has an outwardly-extending actuating pin 36 which extends freely through an opening in the ear portion 34 of the slide bar 21. The outer end of the pin 36 is.

threadedto receive adjustably fitted thereon a lock nut 34a serving as an abutment with respect to the outer surface of the ear portion 34.

The normally closed gas valve 35 has a gas inlet port 37 and a gas outlet port 38. A suitable fitting 39 connects the inlet port 37 through an energy conducting flexible gas conduit 40 to pressurized gas container 41 serving as a source of energy. A fitting 42 similarly connects the outlet port 38 with an energy conducting flexible gas conduit 43 terminating at the input of a gas pressure actuated horn 44. will,

Considering now the operation of the lock bar mechanism, it will be noted that when a proper key is used to operate the lock cylinder 14, the resulting turning of the arcuate latch portion 15, (in the clockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 2), lifts the outer end portion a thereof out of interhooking engagement or abutment with the inside of the forward latch bar portion 22 of the slide bar 21, without disturbing the positional adjustment of said slide bar with respect to its support plate 18. Similarly, reloclting can be effected with use of a proper key in the usual manner. However, any attempt to surreptitiously pry open or otherwise separate the enclosing door member 13 from the housing body member 12 to get at the contained merchandise and coin box will, through interhooked lock latch portion 15, result in an outward or forward force being applied to the slide bar 21 against the resilient yielding force of the helical compression spring 28. The relative outward or sliding movement of the slide bar 21 with respect to the gas valve 35 thus effected carries the actuating pin 36 of said gas valve forwardly to open said normally-closed gas valve, Gas under pressure (potential energy) from the pressurized gas container 41 will thus be permitted to flow through energy conducting flexible conduits 40 and 43 to actuate the pressure operated horn 44, and thereby give a loudsounding warning signal notifying that an attempt is being made to force open the associated vending machine housing, (or other locked housing), to which the device is applied.

A salient feature in the operation of the alarm device resides in the fact that as soon as the force being applied to the enclosing door member 13 is released, the helical compression spring serves to return the slide bar 21 to its adjusted normal position of retraction with respect to the forward end of the support plate 18, whereat the gas valve 35 will be returned to its normally-closed position to deactivate the alarm sounding horn 44. Subsequent attempts to force the housing open will similarly result in sounding the gas pressure actuated alarm 44 during intervals of forcing pressures being applied to the enclosing door member 13 with respect to the housing body member 12. The intermittant sounding of the alarm thus effected not only will normally discourage anyone from surreptitiously trying to force open the protected housing 11, but also results in minimal use of the available pressurized gas in the gas container 41. The lock alarm device system thereby lends itself well to the use of small, inexpensive, commercial pressurized gas containers such as of Freon refrigeration gas. In anygiven installation, the use of the flexible gas conduits 40 and 43 permits location of the pressurized container 41 and the alarm horn 44 at any suitable and convenient locations within the protected housing. It is further to be noted that the various adjustments including the sliding adjustment of support plate 18 with respect to the backing plate 17, the spring pressure adjustment afforded by the adjustable machine screw 31, and the positional adjustment of the actuating pin 36 with respect to the slide bar 21 pennits setting of the lock alarm mechanism 10 within a wide' range of sensitivity to forced entry pressures being applied to the protective housing.

While I haveillustrated and described herein only one form in which my invention can conveniently be embodied in practice, it is to be understood that this form is given by way of ex- I ample only and not in a limiting sense. Thus, instead of using pressurized gas as the source of energy for sounding an alarm, an electrically energized bell, siren, or other audible signal device could instead be used, controlled by a normally-open switch actuated by movement of the slide bar 21 instead of the gas valve 35. The invention, in brief, comprises all the embodiments and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A lock alarm device for detecting attempted forcing of a locking mechanism securing an openable door or panel member with respect to an associated housing member comprising, in combination, a latch member securable to one of said relatively openable housing and door members, a latch bar member, means for resiliently affixing said latch bar member with respect to the other of said relatively openable housing and door members, for relative movement between a first position of rest and a second position of stress, means for moving said latch member, selectively, between locking and unlocking positions, said latch member comprising a latch member portion operative to interhooltingly engage with said latch bar member when in its rest position, when said latch member is in locking position, an alarm device, and means controlled by the movement of said latch bar member with respect to said member to which it is resiliently attached from said rest to said stress position to energize and thereby activate said alarm device, said latch member together with its latch member portion being operative, when said latch member is in locking position, to pull said latch bar member from said first position of rest to said second position of rest upon forced opening mutual separation of said housing and door members.

2. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said alarm device comprises a pressurized-gas-actuated horn, a source of pressurized gas, and gas conduit means communicating between said horn and said gas source, and wherein said latch bar member movement control means comprises a normally closed gas valve in said gas conduit means.

3. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said latch bar member comprises a latch bar portion defining an abutment surface, and wherein said latch member portion is operative to fit in substantially abutting relation behind said abutment surface.

4. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 3, wherein said means resiliently affixing said latch bar member comprises a helical compression spring one end of which is constrained against an outer surface portion of said latch bar portion opposite said abutment surface.

5. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 4, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring.

6. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to energize said alarm device further comprises a source of energy, means for conducting energy from said source to said alarm device, and normally closed switch means in said energy conducting means, said switch means being controlled by the movement of said latch bar member.

7. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means resiliently affixing said latch bar member comprises a helical compression spring one end of which is constrained against an outer surface portion of said latch bar portion oposite said abutment surface.

, 8. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 7, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring.

9. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 3, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring, and wherein said latch bar member affixing cal compression spring, and means for adjusting the compressional force exerted by said helical compression spring between said lug portion and said outer surface of said latch bar portion. 

1. A lock alarm device for detecting attempted forcing of a locking mechanism securing an openable door or panel member with respect to an associated housing member comprising, in combination, a latch member securable to one of said relatively openable housing and door members, a latch bar member, means for resiliently affixing said latch bar member with respect to the other of said relatively openable housing and door members, for relative movement between a first position of rest and a second position of stress, means for moving said latch member, selectively, between locking and unlocking positions, said latch member comprising a latch member portion operative to interhookingly engage with said latch bar member when in its rest position, when said latch member is in locking position, an alarm device, and means controlled by the movement of said latch bar member with respect to said member to which it is resiliently attaChed from said rest to said stress position to energize and thereby activate said alarm device, said latch member together with its latch member portion being operative, when said latch member is in locking position, to pull said latch bar member from said first position of rest to said second position of rest upon forced opening mutual separation of said housing and door members.
 2. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said alarm device comprises a pressurized-gas-actuated horn, a source of pressurized gas, and gas conduit means communicating between said horn and said gas source, and wherein said latch bar member movement control means comprises a normally closed gas valve in said gas conduit means.
 3. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said latch bar member comprises a latch bar portion defining an abutment surface, and wherein said latch member portion is operative to fit in substantially abutting relation behind said abutment surface.
 4. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 3, wherein said means resiliently affixing said latch bar member comprises a helical compression spring one end of which is constrained against an outer surface portion of said latch bar portion opposite said abutment surface.
 5. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 4, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring.
 6. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to energize said alarm device further comprises a source of energy, means for conducting energy from said source to said alarm device, and normally closed switch means in said energy conducting means, said switch means being controlled by the movement of said latch bar member.
 7. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means resiliently affixing said latch bar member comprises a helical compression spring one end of which is constrained against an outer surface portion of said latch bar portion oposite said abutment surface.
 8. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 7, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring.
 9. A lock alarm device as defined in claim 3, including means for adjusting the compressional constraining force of said helical spring, and wherein said latch bar member affixing means comprises a support plate, means for constraining said slide bar member to limited back and forth sliding motion with respect to said support plate, said support plate being provided at one end with an outwardly-extending lug portion serving as an abutment member for the other end of said helical compression spring, and means for adjusting the compressional force exerted by said helical compression spring between said lug portion and said outer surface of said latch bar portion. 